The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1887-06-24
LOST On THE BRIDGE.
What is Done with the Articles Picked
Up in the Trains.
Especial Correspondence


Up in the Trains.
Especial Correspondence
NEW YORK, June Is.
1t is very barren beach that cannot fur
nish some specimens of flotsam and jetsam.
So on all great routes of travel there is an
average of lost articles left in the wake of ex-
cited or forgetful persons. On such means
elevated trains one would expect to find lost
articles, for it is very easy for human nature
to forget, and the temptation to lay articles
down on the seats is too great to be resisted,
and the habit Of getting up and leaving the
articles is natural to many people. 1t is not
surprising, then, that many persons leave
many things in the cars.
But one does not expect to hear the same
thing about people crossing the great Brook
lyn bridge. Their trip on the cars is too
short, one would think, for them to lay their
portable property down. On the promenade
certainly one would scarcely look for an arti-
Gle that had been laid down and then for
gotten.
But the exhibit at Capt. Wards office tells
different story. The cars supply the greater
quantity of lost articles, but the promenade
also pours in great variety. 1t is supposed
people become absorbed in the views from
the great structure, and SO forget all else
Certain it is that they do leave some odd
articles. Umbrellas are very common. Hand
kerchiefs are frequently picked up. An opera
glass occasionally turns up. Canes are nu-
merous. Bits of jewelry are quite often
dropped, especially rings. These are more
numerous in the mornings following moon
light evenings 1t would seem that spooning
couples have the ring in hand while discussing
the momentous question, and. dropping it,
cannot find it, and are just little too bashful
to speak about the matter. So the ieweler
profits by it, for of course a new one must be
bought, as bridge courtships practically
always have happy ending.
great many single kid gloves are found
in the course of a year, and one lady's hustle
was left behind. Babies toys are very often
found, and rubber rings enough to supply
founding institution. A baby carriage was
once left on the center of the promenade, but
it did not get as far as the officers head
quarters. The mother came after it cutie
out of breath as the patrolman was trundling
it along.
Probably the oldest thing that ever was
found OIL the bridge was set of false teeth.
had visited his office, his lunching place and
his favorite sample room. He was quite
unable to say how they had escaped from his
mouth. Besides these unique and valuable
articles there is large number that are of no
value.
After holding for reasonable length of
time for the owners to call and identify, those
that are not claimed are given to the con-
dv,oto,.c ~. r,af,o1p,a,, that found fI,o,,,
But there are also many things lost that are
not found. On a breezy day hat OCCASION
ally goes sailing over the cables and drops
into the river Straw hats have quite pen
chant that way. and occasionally derbys,
Some of the latter are now made with little
eyelets for strings with which to hold them.
The ladies keep theirs fast to their hair with
the large pins that occasionally endanger
gentleInen's eyes in the joltings of cars. But
sometimes these pins hold ON altogether too
well. At least that is what one lady thought
as she saw her bonnet go sailing over the
bosom of the river with her false curIs dam
Cling behind it. The despair of that woman
was really pitiable.
But the most amusing loss was that of an
elderly gentleman, who took Off his hat
day to mop his brow as he was walking
briskly from Brooklyn to New York. A
". ked g,.'t of wind came along just then,
and catching up his wig 1t carried it high in
the al, where it circled for some seconds,
The bare poll of the wretched man glistened
in the sun as he gazed wildly at his lost or
nanent Then the wig slowly settled. A
crowd gathered oil the edge of the promenade
IN watch it, At last it fiuttered down upon
the pilot house of the ferry boat Alaska and
was carried toward the New York shore.
The owner, who by that time was almost
crazei, rushed along the promenade to claim
his prol,e ty when the boat reached her slip
but, alas another gust caught up the wig and
'tlrenpe,: it into the water, and the propeller
oi a tug tore it into shreds. G. w. f.